Incident exercise in a virtual environment

ABSTRACT

An incident simulation system supports an incident exercise in a virtual environment. The incident simulation system accesses a simulation plan defining an incident within a theater of operation. The incident simulation system simulates the incident exercise by displaying, to a participant in the incident exercise, images representing what the participant would see within the theater of operation as the participant moves within the theater of operation. The incident simulation system further simulates the incident by generating incident data indicating effects of the incident at target locations and at target times as the participant moves within the theater of operation. The incident simulation system further simulates the incident by displaying to the participant images representing the user experience that a detector would provide based on the generated incident data.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/592,854, filed on Jan. 8, 2015, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

The United States government has rights in this invention pursuant toContract No. DE-AC52-07NA27344 between the U.S. Department of Energy andLawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, for the operation of LawrenceLivermore National Laboratory.

BACKGROUND

Many types of materials represent a significant hazard to people,equipment, buildings, and so on. Such hazardous materials may includebiological, chemical, and radioactive materials, among others. When ahazardous material incident occurs, an effective response is needed tominimize the harmful effects of the incident. For example, when ahazardous biological material is released into the atmosphere, the firstindications of the incident may be reports by people of unusual bodilyconditions (e.g., watery eyes and difficulty breathing). When firstresponders (e.g., members of a hazmat team) arrive at the scene of anincident, the first responders seek to identify the hazardous material.The first responders may have various detectors available to assist inidentifying the hazardous material. These detectors may includespectrometers, radiation detectors, seismometers, and so on.

Although the detectors for detecting hazardous materials can beeffective at detecting the presence of hazardous materials, thedetectors can be complex devices whose effective use may require asignificant amount of training. For example, before each use somedetectors may need to be calibrated, which can be a complicated anderror-prone process. Some detectors may display graphs representingcharacteristics of measurements and leave it up to a person to interpretthe graphs as part of identifying the hazardous materials that arepresent. Although some training may be done in a classroom environment,the most effective training can occur in a field exercise environmentwith the actual hazardous materials. The use of the actual hazardousmaterial, however, can present many problems such as exposing theparticipants in the exercise to the hazardous material, causinglong-lasting contamination to the area of the field exercise, and so on.In addition, it can be expensive be transport the participants andequipment to the location of a field exercise. Moreover, it would beimpractical to conduct field exercises at certain locations for severalreasons, including disruptions to the normal use of those locations,panic in those people who are not aware that the activity is part of anexercise, and so on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram that illustrates a component that controls thesimulating of an incident exercise in some embodiments of the incidentsimulation system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a display page presented to a participant in anincident exercise in a virtual environment in some embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a display page of a user interface presented by anincident control system of the incident simulation system in someembodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates an overall architecture of the incident simulationsystem in some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart that illustrates the processing of a runsimulation component in some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a runinterval component in some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a simulatedetector signals component of the incident simulation system in someembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a simulateparticipant exposure component of the incident simulation system in someembodiments.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a generatehazard data module for a hazardous material in some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a defineincident component of the incident simulation system in someembodiments.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a definehazard user interface module for a hazardous material in someembodiments.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a defineobjects component of the incident simulation system in some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A method and system for administering an incident exercise via a virtualenvironment is provided. In some embodiments, an incident simulationsystem administers an incident exercise based on a simulation plan thatdefines the incident exercise. The simulation plan may specify a theaterof operation, the incidents within the theater of operation, detectorsfor detecting effects of the incidents, and the entities (e.g., people)participating in the incident exercise. For example, a simulation planspecifies the theater of operation, such as the National Mall area inWashington D.C., an international airport such as the Los AngelesInternational Airport, a cruise ship, and so on. The simulation planalso specifies incidents, such as explosion of a dirty bomb and releaseof toxic gases (e.g., sarin gas). The simulation plan also specifiesdetectors, such as certain brands of spectrometers and radiationdetectors, that are used in the incident exercise. The simulation planalso specifies entities involved in the incident exercise, such aspeople, vehicles, and robots.

The incident simulation system implements a simulation plan bygenerating incident data (e.g., hazard data) indicating effects of theincident at target locations within the theater of operation and attarget times. For example, if an incident is the release of a toxic gas,then the incident simulation system may generate the incident data basedon a model of the dispersal of the toxic gas at various locations andtimes given the current environmental conditions (e.g., temperature andwind speed). The incident simulation system may provide a simulatedvisual experience for the theater of operation that is presented to aparticipant in the incident exercise, for example, via computeranimation, stored videos, or live views of the actual theater ofoperation. As a participant moves through the theater of operation inthe simulated environment, the incident simulation system displays arepresentation of what the participant would see when moving through theactual theater of operation.

The simulation plan may specify whether the incident exercise is to usereal detectors, virtual detectors, or a combination of real and virtualdetectors. If a real detector is used, the incident simulation systemgenerates detector signals based on the generated incident data thatrepresent the signals the real detector would encounter in an actualincident. Each real detector may have a training mode in which thesignals are received from the incident simulation system rather than thedetection hardware of the detector. The incident simulation system thenprovides the detector signals to the detector for processing as if thedetector had actually detected the effects of the incident. If a realdetector is used, then the simulated visual experience for the theaterof operation may be provided via augmented reality using special glassesthat display the visual experience of the theater of operation but allowthe participant to hold and see the real detector. If a virtual detectoris used, the incident simulation system may also generate a simulateduser experience for a detector at a target location and at a target timebased on the incident data or the generated signals. The simulated userexperience represents the user experience that would be generated whenthe real detector actually encountered the effects of the incidentrepresented by the incident data.

The incident simulation system may operate in various environment modesranging from a real environment mode to a virtual environment mode. Inthe real environment mode, the incident exercise is conducted in theactual theater of operation with real detectors. The participants in theincident exercise actually move through the theater of operation andhold real detectors. The incident simulation system tracks the locationsof the participant and provides simulated signals to the detectors sothat the detectors can present the actual user experience of a realincident. In the virtual environment mode, the incident exercise isconducted in a virtual theater of operation, with images of the actualtheater of operation displayed to the participants as they move throughthe virtual theater of operation. The incident simulation systemdisplays to the participants a representation of the actual userexperience (i.e., via a virtual detector) that would be presented by anactual detector. The incident simulation system may provide combinationsof the real environment and virtual environment modes. For example, anincident exercise may be conducted in a virtual theater of operationwith real detectors. As another example, an incident exercise may havesome participants participating via the real environment mode and otherparticipants participating via the virtual environment mode.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram that illustrates a component that controls thesimulating of an incident exercise in some embodiments of the incidentsimulation system. A conduct incident exercise simulation component 100controls the overall simulation as defined by a simulation plan in avirtual environment. The component displays images to participants,generates hazard data, and presents a user experience of detectors basedon the hazard data. In block 101, the component provides a simulationplan for the incident exercise. In block 110, the component simulatesthe incident exercise in a virtual environment. In block 111, thecomponent displays images of the theater of operation to participants asthe participants move through the theater of operation in the virtualenvironment. In block 112, the component generates hazard data based onthe incidents defined in the simulation plan. The component may generatethe hazard data based on the current locations of the participants anddetectors in the virtual environment. In block 113, the componentdisplays to the participants the user experience of the detectors usedby the participants. The incident simulation may conduct either atime-based or an event-driven simulation. With a time-based simulation,the incident simulation system determines the location of theparticipants at each time interval, generates the hazard data for thelocation and time of the interval, and generates the user experience ofthe detectors. With an event-driven simulation, the incident simulationsystem detects events (e.g., movement of participants and change ineffects of a hazardous material) and updates the simulation displaysbased on the events.

FIG. 2 illustrates a display page presented to a participant in anincident exercise in a virtual environment in some embodiments. Adisplay page 200 may include a theater of operation display area 201 anda detector display area 202. The incident simulation system updates thedisplay of the theater of operation display area as a participant movesthrough the theater of operation. The participants may indicate theirmovement through the theater of operation using various input devicessuch as game controllers, joysticks, walking in place, and so on. Theincident simulation system updates the detector display area to presenta user experience that is similar to that provided by a detector giventhe current hazard data at the location of the participant. For example,the detector display area may include a representation of a graph 203,representations of various buttons 204, and location and timeinformation 205 that would be represented by the detector.

FIG. 3 illustrates a display page of a user interface presented by anincident control system of the incident simulation system in someembodiments. The incident control system provides an incident controluser interface through which an incident commander can monitor andcontrol an incident exercise. The incident control system may also beused to monitor and control the response to a real incident. Theincident control user interface may be presented to a person who is inoverall control of the incident exercise. A display page 300 may includea hazard material area 301, a participant area 302, and a detector area303. The hazard material area displays information related to each ofthe incidents involving hazardous material of the exercise. For example,the simulation plan may define that a certain hazardous materialincident occurs at a certain time and a certain location and has certaincharacteristics, such as the quantity of the release. The simulationplan may define that another hazardous material incident occurs in amoving vehicle. In such a case, the simulation plan may define the starttime of the hazardous incident, the route the vehicle travels, and othercharacteristics of the incident. In some embodiments, the vehicle maynot travel on a fixed route; rather, the route may be controlled by aparticipant who is driving the vehicle in the virtual environment. Theparticipant area may contain, for each of the participants, informationsuch as the identity of the participant, the current location of theparticipant, the detector used by the participant, the level ofhazardous material exposure to the participant, and so on. The detectorarea may contain, for each of the detectors, information such as theidentity of detector, the location of detector, and the current userexperience of the detector. The incident control user interface may alsoprovide a mode in which the display of each participant can be viewed.The incident control user interface may also allow communications (e.g.,instant messages or two-way audio) between the person in control of theincident exercise and each of the participants.

FIG. 4 illustrates an overall architecture of the incident simulationsystem in some embodiments. The incident simulation system 400 maysupport both the real environment mode and the virtual environment modeas specified by a simulation plan. The incident simulation systemincludes detector components 401, participant components 402, and otherentity components 403 along with a simulator 410 and simulation modules420. In the real environment mode, a detector component is part of areal detector and provides to the simulator location information (e.g.,data from a GPS or other position system) and receives from thesimulator signals generated from the hazard data. The participantcomponent and other entity component provide to the simulator locationinformation indicating the current location of the participant or otherentity. These components may also support two-way communications withthe incident control system. The detector, participant, and other entitycomponents may not be used in the virtual environment mode. Thesimulator includes a run simulation component 411, a run intervalcomponent 412, and a display user interface component 413, which aredescribed in detail below.

The simulator also includes a simulation storage 415, an environmentstorage 416, an object storage 417, and a black box storage 418. Thesimulation storage stores the simulation plan. The environment storagestores information pertaining to the theater of operation. For example,in the virtual environment mode, the environment storage may store datafor presenting images (actual or virtual) of the theater of operation, amap of the theater of operation, and so on. The object storage containsinformation describing characteristics of the objects within the theaterof operation. For example, an object may be a building and thecharacteristics may include the type of building material (e.g., wood orconcrete), the thickness of walls, and so on. The incident simulationsystem may use the characteristics of the objects when generating thehazard data. For example, the incident simulation system may generatedifferent hazard data for a detector depending on whether the detectoris currently in a building made of wood or concrete. The black boxstorage stores data provides a complete history of the actual incidentexercise such as hazard data, signals, participant locations,participant interactions with detectors, and so on. The variouscomponents of the incident simulation system may store the datagenerated by the component in the black box storage. The data of theblack box storage can be used, for example, to analyze and critique theperformance of the participants, identify problems in the generating ofhazard data, and so on. In some embodiments, the data of the black boxstorage can be used to provide a visual replay an incident exercise.This visual replay can be used to train leaders of teams with real worldexamples of how unanticipated events or untrained team members canaffect the decision-making process, educate instructors and/or teammembers on the causes and effect of decisions, and so on. Such a visualreplay may increase the realism and effectiveness of the training.

The simulator interfaces with simulation modules 420 that includedetector modules 450, participant modules 460, and hazard modules 470.The detector modules may include a receive/transmit module 451, a setlocation module 452, a generate signals module 453, a generate userexperience module 454, and a generate control system user experiencemodule 455. Each type of detector may have its own detector modules thatare specific to that type of detector. The detector modules mayinterface with the simulator using a common application programminginterface that allows for various types of detectors to be used in asimulation. The receive/transmit module receives from a detectorlocation information and transmits to the detector signals generatedbased on hazard data. The set location module sets the location of adetector when in the real environment mode and when in the virtualenvironment mode. The generate signals module generates signals for thedetector based on hazard data generated for a hazardous materialincident. The generate user experience module creates the userexperience of the detector for the virtual environment mode. Thegenerate control system user experience module generates the userinterface for the incident control system. The generate control systemuser experience module may invoke the generate user experience modulefor displaying a representation of the actual user experience of thedetector at the incident control system.

The participant modules may include a receive module 461, a set locationmodule 462, a generate exposure module 463, and a generate controlsystem user experience module 464. The receive module receives locationinformation from a location device of a participant. If a participant isholding a detector, then the location information may be received fromthe detector. Otherwise, each participant (or other entity) may have hisown location device. The set location module sets the location for theparticipant when in the real environment mode and when in the virtualenvironment mode. The generate exposure module generates data indicatingthe amount of exposure of the participant to the hazardous materials.The generate control system user experience module provides to theincident control system the user experience for a participant.

The hazard modules may include a receive module 471, a set locationmodule 472, a generate hazard data module 473, and a generate controlsystem user experience module 474. Each type of hazardous material mayhave its own set of hazard modules. The hazard modules may interfacewith the simulator using a common application programming interface thatallows for various types of hazardous materials to be used in asimulation. The receive module receives location information for thehazardous material, which may be moving in the real or virtualenvironment modes. If it is moving, the hazardous material may beassociated with a means of transportation (e.g., a truck or a person),so the location can be based on the location of the means oftransportation. The set location module sets the location for thehazardous material in both the real environment mode and virtualenvironment mode. The generate hazard data module generates the hazarddata for an incident involving the hazardous material based on thecharacteristics of the incident as specified in the simulation plan. Thegenerate control system user experience module provides to the incidentcontrol system the user experience for the hazardous material.

The computing devices and systems on which the incident simulationsystem may be implemented may include a central processing unit, inputdevices, output devices (e.g., display devices and speakers), storagedevices (e.g., memory and disk drives), network interfaces, graphicsprocessing units, accelerometers, cellular radio link interfaces, globalpositioning system devices, and so on. The input devices may includekeyboards, pointing devices, touch screens, gesture recognition devices(e.g., for air gestures), head and eye tracking devices, microphones forvoice recognition, and so on. The computing devices may include desktopcomputers, laptops, tablets, e-readers, personal digital assistants,smartphones, gaming devices, servers, and computer systems such asmassively parallel systems. The computing devices may accesscomputer-readable media that include computer-readable storage media anddata transmission media. The computer-readable storage media aretangible storage means that do not include a transitory, propagatingsignal. Examples of computer-readable storage media include memory suchas primary memory, cache memory, and secondary memory (e.g., DVD) andinclude other storage means. The computer-readable storage media mayhave recorded upon or may be encoded with computer-executableinstructions or logic that implements the incident simulation system.The data transmission media is used for transmitting data viatransitory, propagating signals or carrier waves (e.g.,electromagnetism) via a wired or wireless connection.

The incident simulation system may be described in the general contextof computer-executable instructions, such as program modules andcomponents, executed by one or more computers, processors, or otherdevices. Generally, program modules or components include routines,programs, objects, data structures, and so on that perform particulartasks or implement particular data types. Typically, the functionalityof the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired invarious embodiments. Aspects of the incident simulation system may beimplemented in hardware using, for example, an application-specificintegrated circuit (“ASIC”).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart that illustrates the processing of a runsimulation component in some embodiments. In this embodiment, the runsimulation component 500 runs a time-based simulation. In block 501, thecomponent initializes the time for the start of the simulation. In block502, the component invokes a run interval component to run thesimulation for the interval at the current time. In block 503, thecomponent increments the time to the next interval. In decision block504, if the simulation is complete, then the component completes, elsethe component loops to block 502 to run the simulation for the nextinterval.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a runinterval component in some embodiments. The run interval component 600runs the simulation for the current interval. In blocks 601-603, thecomponent runs the simulation for each detector. In block 601, thecomponent selects the next detector. In decision block 602, if all thedetectors have already been selected, then the component continues atblock 604, else the component continues at block 603. In block 603, thecomponent invokes a simulate detector signals component for the selecteddetector and then loops to block 601 to select the next detector. Inblocks 604-606, the component runs a simulation for each participant. Inblock 604, the component selects the next participant. In decision block605, if all the participants have already been selected, then thecomponent completes, else the component continues at block 606. In block606, the component invokes a simulate participant exposure component forthe selected participant and then loops to block 604 to select the nextparticipant.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a simulatedetector signals component of the incident simulation system in someembodiments. The simulate detector signals component 700 is invoked todetermine the effects of each hazardous material specified in anincident in the simulation plan on a detector at its current location.In block 701, the component determines and sets the current location ofthe detector. In block 702, the component selects the next hazardousmaterial. In decision block 703, if all the hazardous materials havealready been selected, then the component continues at block 706, elsethe component continues at 704. In block 704, the component invokes thegenerate hazard data module of the hazard modules for the type ofhazardous material to generate the hazard data that the detector wouldbe exposed to given its current location. In block 705, the componentinvokes the generate signals module of the detector modules to generatethe signals for the detector based on the hazard data. The componentthen loops to block 702 to select the next hazardous material. In block706, the component transmits the signals to the detector if a realdetector is being used. If a virtual detector is being used, then thegenerate user experience module of the detector modules generates theuser experience based on the generated signals.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a simulateparticipant exposure component of the incident simulation system in someembodiments. The simulate participant exposure component 800 is invokedto determine the cumulative effects on a participant of each hazardousmaterial specified in an incident of the simulation plan. In block 801,the component determines and sets the current location of theparticipant. In block 802, the component selects the next hazardousmaterial. In decision block 803, if all the hazardous materials havealready been selected, then the component completes, else the componentcontinues at block 804. In block 804, the component invokes the generatehazard data module of the hazard modules for the type of the selectedhazardous material to generate the hazard data that the participantwould be exposed to given the participant's current location. In block805, the component updates the cumulative exposure of the participant tothe selected hazardous material based on the hazard data and then loopsto block 802 to select the next hazardous material.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a generatehazard data module for a hazardous material in some embodiments. Thegenerate hazard data module 900 is invoked to generate the hazard datafor a target location based on an incident involving the hazardousmaterial. The module factors in the characteristics of the incident suchas incident time, incident location, incident strength, and so on. Ifthe incident location is not fixed, then the modules factors in theroute or path of the incident. The module also factors in the presenceof objects in the theater of operation that may have an effect on thehazard data. For example, the module may factor in the effect of aconcrete structure when the target location is within the concretestructure and the incident location is outside the concrete structure orvice versa. In block 901, the module applies a physics-based algorithmto determine the hazard data at the target location. For example, thephysics-based algorithm may factor in the rate of decay of the hazardousmaterial, distance between the target location and the incidentlocation, time between the incident time and the current time, actionstaken to reduce the effects of the hazardous materials, and otherfactors that may affect the effects of the hazardous material. In blocks902-905, the module loops factoring in the effects of those objects, ifany, that are in between the incident location and the target location.If an object can move (e.g., a vehicle), the module factors in thecurrent location of the object. In block 902, the module selects thenext object in a path from the incident location to the target location.In decision block 903, if all such objects have already been selected,then the module completes, else the module continues at block 904. Indecision block 904, if the hazard data is affected by the presence ofthe selected object, then the module continues at block 905, else themodule loops to block 902 to select the next object. In block 905, themodule adjusts the generated hazard data to account for the presence ofthe object and then loops to block 902 to select the next object.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a defineincident component of the incident simulation system in someembodiments. The define incident component 1000 is invoked during thedefining of a simulation plan to define the incidents of the simulationplan. Each type of hazardous material may provide an incident userinterface for defining the characteristics involving that hazardousmaterial for an incident. In block 1001, the component receives from auser a selection of a hazardous material of the incident. In decisionblock 1002, if the defining of the incident is complete, then thecomponent completes, else the component continues at block 1003. Inblock 1003, the component invokes a define hazard user interface modulefor the selected hazardous material to specify the characteristics ofthe incident. In block 1004, the component stores the data specifyingthe characteristics of the incident for the selected hazardous materialas part of the simulation plan and then loops to block 1001 to selectthe next hazardous material.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a definehazard user interface module for a hazardous material in someembodiments. The define hazard user interface module 1100 is invoked tospecify the characteristics of a hazardous material involved in anincident. In block 1101, the module receives the coordinates of theincident location. In block 1102, the module receives the incident timefor the hazardous material. In block 1103, the module receives theintensity (or other indication of magnitude or strength) of thehazardous material. The component may also receive other information todefine the incident, depending on the type of hazardous material. Forexample, if the incident location is not fixed, then the otherinformation may include an identification of the vehicle transportingthe hazardous material, the route of travel of the hazardous material,and so on. The module then completes.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram that illustrates the processing of a defineobjects component of the incident simulation system in some embodiments.The define objects component 1200 is invoked to define the objectswithin the theater of operation. The objects may include buildings,walls, vehicles, bridges, and so on. The component may display to a useran indication of the objects that may be defined for the theater ofoperation. In block 1201, the component receives a selection of anobject. In decision block 1202, if the selection of objects has beencompleted, then the component completes, else the component continues atblock 1203. In block 1203, the component determines the type of object.In block 1204, the component invokes an object user interface module forthe type of the object to input the characteristics of the object. Forexample, if the object is a building, then the characteristics mayinclude location of the building, dimensions of the building,construction material, and so on. In block 1205, the component storesthe characteristics of the object as part of the simulation plan andthen loops to block 1201 to select the next object.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subjectmatter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to thespecific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific featuresand acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementingthe claims. For example, the incident simulation system may be used withincidents that do not involve material that is considered to behazardous. For example, the incident may be related to an avalanche in aski area with the incident designed exercise to train in locatingavalanche victims. The incident simulation system may also be used in agaming environment in which incidents involving hazardous materials(e.g., resulting from a dirty bomb) need to be identified and assessedso that counter measures can be taken. In such a gaming environment, theincident simulation system may generate the hazard data associated withan incident and provide the user experience for the detectors that areavailable to the participants in the game. Accordingly, the invention isnot limited except as by the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method performed by one or more computingsystems of an incident simulation system for administering an incidentexercise based on a simulation of a hazardous material incident, themethod comprising: accessing a simulation plan that defines the incidentexercise, the simulation plan specifying a type of hazardous material, atheater of operation, and a real detector, the real detector havingdetection hardware and a training mode, the training mode for receivingdetector signals from the incident simulation system and processing thedetector signals as if the detection hardware had actually generated thedetector signals, so that real detector can present an actual userexperience that the real detector would generate had the detectionhardware actually generated the detector signals; running, based on thesimulation plan, the simulation to generate incident data indicatingeffects of the hazardous material incident at a target location withinthe theater of operation and at target time; generating, based on theincident data, detector signals representing detector signals that thedetection hardware would generate if the real detector was at the targetlocation at the target time had the hazardous material incident been anactual hazardous material incident; and sending, to the real detectoroperating in the training mode when the real detector is simulated asbeing at the target location at the target time, the generated detectorsignals so that the real detector, upon receiving the real detectorsignals, can generate and display an actual user interface that the realdetector would generate and display had the detection hardware generatedthe generated detector signals during an actual hazardous materialincident.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the simulation plan specifiesa participant who is to hold the real detector during the incidentexercise.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the incident exercise inconducted at the theater of operation with a participant.
 4. The methodof claim 3 wherein the simulation plan specifies a participant who is tohold the real detector and further comprising determining a location ofthe participant within the theater of operation when the participant isholding the real detector during the incident exercise so that thegenerated detector signals can be sent to the real detector when thelocation indicates that the participant is at the target location. 5.The method of claim 1 further comprising generating, based on theincident data, a simulated user experience to represent the actual userexperience and presenting the simulated user experience at an incidentcontrol system of the incident simulation system.
 6. The method of claim1 wherein the simulation plan defines a location and a time of thehazardous material incident.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein thesimulation plan defines that the hazardous material incident occurs in amoving vehicle and a route for the moving vehicle.
 8. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the simulation plan defines environmental conditions forthe theater of operation.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein thesimulation plan defines a quantity of hazardous material.
 10. The methodof claim 1 further comprising generating the simulation plan, thegenerating including receiving a selection of the hazardous material,receiving coordinates of a location of the hazardous material incident,and receiving an intensity of the hazardous material incident.
 11. Themethod of claim 10 further comprising generating the simulation plan,the generating includes defining objects within theater of operations,the defining including receiving an identification of an object type anda location of the object within the theater of operation.
 12. One ormore computing systems of an incident simulation system foradministering an incident exercise based on a simulation of a hazardousmaterial incident, the one or more computing systems comprising: one ormore computer-readable storage mediums for storing computer-executableinstructions for controlling the one or more computing systems to:generate a simulation plan that defines the incident exercise, thesimulation plan specifying a type of hazardous material, a theater ofoperation, and a real detector, the real detector having detectionhardware for generating detector signals when the real detector detectsa hazardous material, the real detector having a training mode; run,based on the simulation plan, the simulation to generate incident dataindicating effects of the hazardous material incident at a targetlocation within the theater of operation and at target time; generate,based on the incident data, detector signals representing detectorsignals that the detection hardware would generate if the real detectorwas at the target location at the target time had the hazardous materialincident been an actual hazardous material incident; and send, to thereal detector when the real detector is simulated as being at the targetlocation at the target time, the generated detector signals so that thereal detector when operating in the training mode can generate a userinterface that the real detector, would generate had the detectionhardware generated the generated detector signals during an actualhazardous material incident; and one or more processors for executingthe computer-executable instructions stored in the one or morecomputer-readable storage mediums.
 13. The one more computing systems ofclaim 12 wherein the computer-executable instructions further controlthe one or more computing systems to generate the simulation plan, thegenerating of the simulation plan including receiving a selection of thehazardous material, receiving coordinates of a location of the hazardousmaterial incident, and receiving an intensity of the hazardous materialincident.
 14. The one more computing systems of claim 12 wherein thecomputer-executable instructions further control the one or morecomputing systems to generate the simulation plan to define objectswithin the theater of operations, the generating of the simulation planincluding receiving an identification of an object type and a locationof the object within the theater of operation.
 15. The one morecomputing systems of claim 12 wherein the computer-executableinstructions further control the one or more computing systems togenerate, based on the incident data, a simulated user experience torepresent an actual user experience that the real detector wouldgenerate had the detection hardware actually generated the detectorsignals and presenting the simulated user experience at an incidentcontrol system of the incident simulation system.
 16. The one morecomputing systems of claim 12 wherein the simulation plan defines alocation and a time of the hazardous material incident.
 17. The one morecomputing systems of claim 12 wherein the simulation plan defines thatthe hazardous material incident occurs in a moving vehicle and a routefor the moving vehicle travel.
 18. The one more computing systems ofclaim 12 wherein the simulation plan defines environmental conditionsfor the theater of operation.
 19. The one more computing systems ofclaim 12 wherein the simulation plan defines a quantity of hazardousmaterial.
 20. The one more computing systems of claim 12 wherein thesimulation plan specifies a participant who is to hold the real detectorduring the incident exercise.
 21. The one more computing systems ofclaim 12 wherein the incident exercise in conducted at the theater ofoperation with a participant.
 22. The one more computing systems ofclaim 21 wherein the simulation plan specifies a participant who is tohold the real detector and wherein the computer-executable instructionsfurther control the one or more computing systems to determine alocation of the participant within the theater of operation when theparticipant is holding the real detector during the incident exercise sothat the generated detector signals can be sent to the real detectorwhen the location indicates that the participant is at the targetlocation.
 23. The method of claim 1 wherein the user interface providescharacteristics of measurements that are based on the detector signals.